Niger Seed
Sow in July, harvest around October
This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.
Grown on 36,799 acres here. Sold at 3 mandis in your district.
₹4,000–₹6,000
per acre a season, before costs
Likely a loss at typical costs: ₹3,000–₹5,000 an acre a season
- Suits: Rain is enough
- Suits: Ideal temperatures
- Needs care: Soil 7/10
Why, and how to make it work Hide details
Water
Rain is enough, even in a dry year.
Needs about 290 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 530 mm it can use in a normal year, and 480 mm in a dry year.
Heavy rain here can waterlog it. Grow it on raised beds or land that drains well.
Temperature
Grows best at 18–26 °C on average, and survives 11–34 °C.
Here, in its growing months (day / night):
- Jul 29 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
- Aug 29 °C / 23 °C
- Sep 29 °C / 23 °C
- Oct 29 °C / 19 °C
Months in orange are outside its best range.
Soil
Soil for Niger Seed: 7 out of 10 (okay).
Not in the score: phosphorus.
- The pH here suits it.
- Many fields here are short of sulphur, which it needs a lot.
- Most fields here are short of nitrogen.
- Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
Likes pH 5.5–6.5.
How the soil score worksMoney
Yield: about 0.8 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).
Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (October 2026): about ₹6,200 a quintal at mandis in your district.
Minimum support price: ₹10,052 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.
- ₹6,000 2023
- ₹6,000 2024
- ₹6,000 2025
Prices are usually best in January.
Typical costs are about ₹8,000 an acre (seed, fertiliser, labour and hired machines, from the government's cost survey). They are spent whatever the harvest.
How to make it work
The better districts with similar soil, rain and warmth get 1.6 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.
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Short of nitrogen Your soil is likely short of nitrogen.
Add about a quarter more urea than the usual dose, in two or three splits. A pulse crop in rotation also adds nitrogen.
Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.
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Short of organic carbon Your soil is likely short of organic carbon.
Add 4 tonnes of compost or farmyard manure per acre before sowing, and plough crop leftovers back in instead of burning them.
Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.
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Short of sulphur Your soil is likely short of sulphur.
Use single super phosphate instead of DAP, or add about 100 kg of gypsum per acre before sowing.
Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.
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Short of zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.
Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.
Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.
What local farmers put on it (share of fields):
- Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 3%
- Urea 1%